Smoke-arresting apparatus



Oct. 1], 1955 G, BUNGAS SMOKE-ARRESTING APPARATUS Filed DGO. 6, 1954 t4-JI INVENTOR. George Bu ngas BY www 2f WMU SMOKE-ARRESTING APPARATUS George Bungas, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application December 6, 1954, Serial No. 473,126

7 Claims. (Cl. 261-24) This invention relates to the cleansing of gases, particularly to the smoke and dust burdened gases of various kinds of industrial apparatus, and to the wastegases of boiler houses and of industrial and domestic furnaces. The invention consists in certain new and useful improvements in apparatus, by virtue of which a simple, relative- 1y inexpensive and eicient unitary apparatus for the cleansing of such gases is realized,

The apparatus of the invention is susceptible to embodiment in large-scale installations in manufacturing plants, and conversely is particularly desirable in smallscale embodiment for installation in oice buildings, apartment houses, hotels and the like, for which large complex, and costly smoke-arresting installations are inappropriate. t

The object of the invention is` to provide apparatus capable, consistent with thesimplicity of the apparatus, of removing a maximum of particulate solid matter and condensable fumes from dirty gases.

In the obtainment of such object the gases are caused to flow into and through a cooling and cleansing body of water. The flow of the gases maybe produced by a fan that draws the gases through the apparatus. In the cleansing of furnace gases, it will be understood that the eifect of furnace pressure and/or stack draft 4will act with aggregative effect with the fan or induction device of the apparatus. p

In the accompanying drawings an exemplary apparatus of the invention is illustrated, inwhich: t

Fig. 1 is a view in vertical, longitudinal section of the apparatus; p

Fig. 2 is a View of the apparatus in cross-section, as seen on the plane II-II of Fig. l, it being noted that in this View a certain funnel member of the apparatus appears in front elevation;

Fig. 3 is a View in rear elevation of the `said funnel member removed from assembly with the apparatus; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the apparatus, as seen on the plane IV--IV of Fig. 1.

In the accompanying drawings the reference numeral 1 designates a portion of a duct leading from the smoke box of a furnace. Because those instrumentalities can be considered as both conventional and variable they are omitted from illustration inthe drawings.` Duct 1 may be of any desired cross-sectional contour, but isshown as rectangular, which contour is readily conformable to the installation of the apparatus and to the connection of the duct with other elements of the apparatus. The direct smoke-arresting device of the apparatus is a Washing tank 2, into which duct 1 delivers the dirty gases, and from which the cleansed gases are Withdrawn by way of a duct 30 that includes an exhaust fan 31 in fan ring 32. The duct 30 may be either rectangular or round in cross section. The tank is of extremely simple rectangular-box construction, and is of equal width with the duct 1 from which duct the tank extends downward, or from which it is suspended.

A pool of water is maintained in the tank 2 at a normal level 3, the water being supplied to the pool by means of three pipes 4, 5 and 6 that extend across the full width of the tank. The pipes 4-6 are slotted along their bottorn portions, whereby the water supplied by feed lines united States Patent rice 7 is caused to stream downwardly from the pipes to the surface of the water pool in thin water curtains or sheets 3, 9 and 10. Two overflow pipes 11 provide for the maintenance of the water pool at desired level.

The gases to be cleansed flow into the duct 1 under such pressure as may exist in the furnace smoke-box, plus the effect of the exhaust fan 31. The gases are directed from the duct 1 into the pool of water by means of a curved funnel member 12 of rectangular cross section. The upper, flared end of the funnel member snugly iits the duct 1, providing an inlet of equal area with the said duct for the reception of the gases delivered thereby. In the section plane of Fig. 1 the top and bottom walls (13 and 14 respectively) of the funnel member extend from horizontal alignment with the top and bottom walls of the duct 1 through an angle of 90 degrees to form the front and rear vertical walls of the lower and smaller end of the funnel member, and through such extent the said walls are substantially parallel. The side walls 15 and 16 of the funnel member are curved inwardly in their extent from the side walls of duct 1 to the lower, vertical and restricted end of the funnel member, as will be seen in Figs. 2 and 3. The lower portion of the funnel member 12 is submerged and extends well below the surface of the water in tank 2, and at its extreme lower end the funnel member is closed by a diaphragm 23 which is upwardly curved in section, as appears in Fig. l. Above the closure diaphragm 23 there is provided a particularly eiective system of outlets for the release of dirty gases into the water.

More particularly, the gases tlowing through the horizontal duct 1 enter the funnel member and stream at accelerated velocity into the lower and submerged `end of such funnel member, whence the gases are released through narrow slots 17, 1S, 19 and 20 in the front wall (13, Fig. 2) of the funnel member and through a similar system of slots 25 in the back Wall (14, Fig. 3) of the funnel member. Bales 22 located severally above the said slots enhance the distribution of the flow of the gases from the funnel member into the water.. Upon being drawn through the slots under the suction of fan 31 the gases bubble upwardly through the Waterl and enter the outlet llue 30 leading from the top of tank 2, whence the gases escape into the stack or other outlet, into which the flue 30 opens. The contact of the hot furnace gases with the relatively cool water serves not only to cleanse the particulate solids from the gases, but also serves to condense the fumes in the gases and to remove the con.- densate therefrom.

It will be understood that the pressure and/ or suction, which promotes the flow of gases through the apparatus, acts upon the surface of the pool of water which stands within and entirely surrounds the lower end of the funnel member. The effect of such pressure and/or suction is to cause the level of the water to rise externally of the lower end of the funnel member and to fall internally thereof, until the difference in hydraulic head between the inside and outside of the funnel member is such as to promote the flow of gases through the slots 17-20 and 25 into the body of water encompassing the lower end of the funnel member. As already mentioned, upon ilowing through said slots well below the surface of the water surrounding the lower, constricted portion of the funnel member, the gases rise and bubble upwardly through the water and pass into the outlet duct 30.

The water curtains 8 and 10 play outside of the funnel member, while the water curtain 9 plays inside. The eifect of these curtains is not only to provide a continuous supply of water to the tank, but to wash the gases and to enhance the cleansing action. Additionally, the water curtains tend to inhibit and minimize the existence of steam above the pool of water in the tank 2, which steam might tend to become entrained in objectionable quantities in the cleansed gases leaving the apparatus.

, From time to time the ta-nk is emptied of water and of the sludge formed by `the accumulation of materials removed from lthe gases passed throughV the apparatus. A valved drain line 24 provides for such, draining of the tank. The water curtains are effective to wash the inner and outer surfaces of the normally submerged portions of the funnel number 12, and the inner surfaces of the tank 2, on which sludge tends to collect.

Y The apparatus illustrated comprises a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, but it will be understood that various modifications in the structure and function described may be made within the bounds of the invention defined in the appended claims.

Notice is given of my copending application Serial No. 349,807, filed April 20, 1953 for improvements in smokearresting apparatus.

I claim:

l. Smoke-arresting apparatus comprising a tank containing a pool of water, an inlet duct for smoke-bearing gases, a funnel member having an upper flared portion mounted to receive the gases flowing through said inlet duct and a lower relatively constricted portion extending downwardly into and submerged in said pool, said constricted portion being rectangular in cross section and having vertical walls, said vertical walls of said constricted and submerged portion including a plurality of openings for the distributed release of said gases into and well below the surface of the pool, an outlet duct leading from said tank above the pool therein, and gas-propelling means for promoting the cleansing movement of the released gases upwardly through the water and into said outlet duct.

@Smoke-arresting apparatus comprising a tank containing a pool of water, a horizontal inlet duct for smokebearing gases, a funnel member having an upper flared portion aligned to receive the gases flowing through said inlet duct and a body curved downwardly from said upper flared portion to a relatively constricted lower portion extending downwardly into and submerged in said pool, said constricted portion being rectangular in cross section and having vertical walls, said vertical walls of said constricted and submerged portion including a plurality of openings for the distributed release of said gases into and well `below the surface of the pool, an outlet duct opening from said tank above the pool therein, and means for promoting the cleansing movement of the released gases upwardly through the water and into said outlet duct.

3. Smoke-arresting apparatus comprising a tank containing a pool of water, a horizontal inlet duct for smokebearing gases, a funnel member having an upper ared portion aligned to receive the gases flowing through said inlet duct and a body curved downwardly from said upper ared portion to a relatively constricted lower portion extending downwardly into and submerged in said pool, said constricted portion being rectangular in cross section and having vertical walls, said vertical walls of said constricted and submerged portion including a plurality of vertically spaced slots for the distributed release of said gases into and well below the surface of the pool, an outlet duct opening from said tank above the pool therein, and gas-propelling means for promoting the cleansing movement of the released gases upwardly through the water and into said outlet duct.

4. Smoke-arresting apparatus comprising a tank containing a pool of water, an inlet duct for smoke-bearing gases, a funnel member having an upper flared portion mounted to receive the gases from the inlet duct and a lower relatively constricted portion extending downwardly into and submerged in said pool, the bottom of said constricted and submerged funnel portion having a closure element and said constricted portion being rectangular in cross section and having vertical walls, said vertical walls of said constricted and submerged portion above such element including a plurality of restricted openings for the distributed release of said gases into and well below the surface of the pool, an outlet duct leading from said tank above the pool therein, and gas-propelling means for promoting the cleansing movement of the released gases upwardly through lthe water and into said outlet duct.

5. Smoke-arresting apparatus comprising a tank containing a pool of water, an inlet duct for smoke-bearing gases, a funnel member having lan upper flared portion mounted to receive the gases from the inlet duct and a lower relatively constricted portion extending downwardly into and submerged in said pool, the bottom of said constricted and submerged funnel portion having a closure element and said constricted portion being rectangular in cross sectionand having vertical walls, said vertical walls of said constricted and submerged portion above such closure element including a plurality of restricted openings for the distributed release of said gases into and well below the surface of the pool, an outlet duct leading from said tank above the pool therein, and gas-propelling means for promoting the cleansing movement of the released gases upwardly through the water and into said outlet duct, together with a water outlet for said tank, and means for supplying water to said pool including devices that form a plurality of water curtains above the surface of the pool.

6. Smoke-arresting apparatus comprising a tank 'containing a pool of water, a harizontal inlet duct for smokebearing gases, a funnel member having an upper fiared portion aligned to receive the gases flowing through said inlet duct and a body curved downwardly from said upper ared portion'to a relatively constricted lower portion extending downwardly into and submerged in said pool, the bottom ofsaid constricted and submerged funnel portion having a closure element and said constricted portion being rectangular in cross section and having vertical walls, said vertical walls of said constricted and submerged portion' above said closure element including a plurality of vertically spaced baffle-equipped slots for the distributed release of said gases into and well below the surface of said pool, an outlet duct leading from said tank aboveV the pool therein, and gas-propelling means for promoting the cleansing movement of the released gases upwardly through the water and into said outlet duct.

7. Smoke-arresting apparatus comprising a tank con`- taining a pool of water, a horizontal inlet duct for smokebearing gases, a funnel member having an upper flared portion aligned to receive the gases flowing through said inlet duct and a body curved downwardly from said upper flared portion to a relatively constricted lower portion extending downwardly into and submerged in said pool, the bottom' of said constricted and submerged funnel portion having an upwardly convex closure element and said constricted portion being rectangular in cross section and having vertical walls, said vertical walls of said constricted and submerged portion above said closure element including a plurality of vertically spaced, baieequipped slots for the distributed release of said gases into and `well below the surface of said pool, an outlet duct leading from said tank above the pool therein, and gas-propelling means for promoting the cleansing movement of the released gases upwardly through the water and into said'outlet duct, together with a water" outlet for said tank, and means for supplying water to said pool including devices for forming a plurality of water curtains above the surface of the pool.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 486,150 Wilder NOV. l5, 1892 517,297 Reiss Mar. 27, 1894 934,205 Nix Sept. 14, 1.909 1,214,372- Romberger n Jan. 30, 1917 

